Boris Johnson backs MP Zac Goldsmith to replace him as Mayor of London

Boris Johnson is urging outspoken MP Zac Goldsmith to stand as the Tory candidate for Mayor of London.

The Richmond Park MP is seen as a perfect heir to Mr Johnson because of his reputation for being independent-minded and championing unfashionable non-party causes. He also shares the Mayor’s fierce opposition to a third runway at Heathrow.

In a statement to the Evening Standard today, Mr Goldsmith said he was committed to standing again as MP for his west London constituency — but he did not rule out taking a shot at City Hall in 2016.

“I’m thrilled Boris wants to return to Parliament,” the backbencher said. “He has an enormous amount to contribute, and will be welcomed.

“For my part, it is an extraordinary honour to represent the place I grew up and live in, and I hope residents will back me for another term.”

Mr Goldsmith, one of Westminster’s wealthiest MPs thanks to his businessman father the late Sir James Goldsmith, is regarded as a maverick for taking up difficult causes, including green issues.

This year he clashed with David Cameron by demanding a Recall Bill to let voters sack misbehaving MPs, but then successfully persuaded the Prime Minister to take up the problem of antibiotics being over-used.

His statement was issued in response to direct questions put to him, including whether he had considered running for Mayor, and whether he would say no if asked. The opaque response contrasted with his answer to the same question at a Tory fringe event last October, when he said running for City Hall would be “a suicide mission”.

“I think people have had enough of white male Etonians,” he said at the time. “I’m not sure my chances would be very high.” When pressed he added: “It’s simply not going to happen. I’m not going to stand as a candidate for mayor of London.”

Actor Tom Conti, who considered running for Mayor as a Conservative in 2008 but stood aside when Mr Johnson entered the fray, has revealed he may try again. “Boris is quite a hard act to follow,” he told Radio Berkshire.

“He’s been pretty good. I did wonder about having another go … my family and friends pleaded with me not to do it because, they said, ‘it will ruin our lives!’ which is sort of true.”